THIRUVALLUVAR

Nov. 10, 2019

A controversy has been playing out in Tamil Nadu over the legacy of the ancient saint Thiruvalluvar. It began with the BJP state unit tweeting a picture of Thiruvalluvar, whose white robes had been replaced with saffron, which drew protests from Dravidian and Left parties.

About:

  • Thiruvalluvar is commonly known as Valluvar.

  • He was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher.

  • The period when he lived is debated, as is his religious identity.
    • Some place him in the third or fourth century; others put him in the eighth or ninth.

    • Some call him a Hindu; some trace his past to Jainism; Dravidian groups count him as a saint with no religious identifiers except his Dravidian roots.



  • He is best known as the author of Thirukkuṛaḷ, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economical matters, and love. The text is considered an exceptional and widely cherished work of the Tamil literature.

  • Valluvar has influenced a wide range of scholars down the ages since his time across the ethical, social, political, economical, religious, philosophical, and spiritual spheres.